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Which bass would you tune to BEAD?

M

Msegbass

Jan 1, 2023
28
20
#1
I could use a low B string with the music I’m currently playing. I haven’t played a 5 string that felt comfortable to me yet and I’m also not in a position to buy a new bass. I do however like to justify owning the basses I do own.

In your opinion/experience which of these basses would be best to tune to BEAD?

1. 2011 Fender Jazz bass: My lightest, most comfortable and best sounding bass. Would like to keep it in standard tuning because I use this one the most.

2. 2005 Fender Precision: Currently strung with chromes sounds great. Has the s1 switch which I think would help keep low notes clear and prevent them from being too “boomy”. No bridge pickup may be a con.

3. 2016 Ric 4003w: Great bass. I don’t really play it because much in the bands I’m in because I have a hard time getting it to sit where I like in the mix in a bigger band. I use it in a trio.

4. mid ‘80s Fender jazz special: Black and white PJ like Duff. Good enough bass but probably least used. Pickups are a little weak and doesn’t sound nearly as good as any other. Thinking of upgrading the pickups as well if I’m going to use it live.

Willing to take any other advice the experts here have to offer. Thank you!
 
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#2
I've done it on a 2008 Fender Precision (which is now back to standard tuning). No complaints here, and I never found it to be too boomy. Definitely in the old school vein though, which is cool depending on what you plan to do with it. (I used it with flats in a bass-heavy atmospheric doom project, so right at home there)

What kind of music do you want to play with it?
 
#4
Nashrakh said:
I've done it on a 2008 Fender Precision (which is now back to standard tuning). No complaints here, and I never found it to be too boomy. Definitely in the old school vein though, which is cool depending on what you plan to do with it. (I used it with flats in a bass-heavy atmospheric doom project, so right at home there)

What kind of music do you want to play with it?
Click to expand...

That’s awesome. Do you know of any examples of recordings that would have flats on those low strings?
Heavy rock with one band. Classic rock/pop with another.
 
#8
PJ. I have a P-Bass strung BEAD because it’s a backup to my BEAD Steinberger but I would have preferred to keep it standard for playing classic stuff like Motown. If I had an extra 4 around I probably would have done it with that one. It does sound great BEAD though so I’ll prob end up getting another P-Bass for standard tuning as I did have to widen the nut slots. It is strung with DR Legend flats.
 
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#10
I would do the RIC....simply because it's your least likable and it would be easy to replace nut and tweak the bridge.
DON'T touch the 80's PJ....worth more than the other basses you have now.
IMHO
 
#11
I'm sure all would work. Other odds-n-ends I'd think about.
- What strings are you gonna use
- Does the bass you select have a robust neck - this isn't the place for the thin neck "CIJ" Geddy Lee J-bass
- I'd also look at the truss rod. If its close to max. with EADG, then I may not have enough adjustments left to go BEAD
- I'm gonna have to rework the nut - hope I don't need a new one - So I can't be changing my mind once I file it, I'm committed to using that bass.
 
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#12
Msegbass said:
I could use a low B string with the music I’m currently playing. I haven’t played a 5 string that felt comfortable to me yet and I’m also not in a position to buy a new bass. I do however like to justify owning the basses I do own.

In your opinion/experience which of these basses would be best to tune to BEAD?

1. 2011 Fender Jazz bass: My lightest, most comfortable and best sounding bass. Would like to keep it in standard tuning because I use this one the most.

2. 2005 Fender Precision: Currently strung with chromes sounds great. Has the s1 switch which I think would help keep low notes clear and prevent them from being too “boomy”. No bridge pickup may be a con.

3. 2016 Ric 4003w: Great bass. I don’t really play it because much in the bands I’m in because I have a hard time getting it to sit where I like in the mix in a bigger band. I use it in a trio.

4. mid ‘80s Fender jazz special: Black and white PJ like Duff. Good enough bass but probably least used. Pickups are a little weak and doesn’t sound nearly as good as any other. Thinking of upgrading the pickups as well if I’m going to use it live.

Willing to take any other advice the experts here have to offer. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Based on my (admittedly limited) experience doing BEAD tuning, I would go for a multi-scale option which is meant for BEAD tuning. It's probably excessive, and the reason I have a BEAD bass to begin with is because I just have a spare bass lying around, but I've really just not had much success with 34'' B strings in general. I recognize they do it for some people, and that's great, but they just don't do it for me. From the multi-scale options I have tried, it feels like that would be a better route in general for extended range basses.
 
#13
I've had a couple of basses strung BEAD; neither were basses on your list, though. One was an aluminum-necked Kramer 450B; the other was an '06 Carvin LB-20. The Kramer didn't stay that way long; the Warwick Low B strings worked well; too well, given the Kramer's ridiculously high output pickups. But, it was my reluctance to modify an impossible-to-replace left handed Kramer nut, that made it a no-go. The Carvin, OTOH, was strung BEAD for... about 9 years; mainly because I had no real need for a custom-made Rickenbacker substitute, since I had 2 of the real thing. But, a couple of years ago, I changed it back to EADG tuning, and put a set of Sadowsky Blue Label Flats on it. Mainly because I just... couldn't justify a BEAD bass, given the kind of music I play. And, I also sold one of the Ricks. The Carvin can fake a Rick 4003 pretty darn well (it was made that way, after all); well enough that I don't miss that Rick - much...:rolleyes: However...
Which of those basses would I string BEAD? Either of the Fenders. I think I'm still a member of the 4-string BEAD Club here, and from what I remember reading from other members? The main problem people have with their basses, is getting the B string to intonate. And, the usual reason why, is that the (normally) E-string saddle just won't go back far enough. My Kramer didn't have a problem, but the E-string saddle on the Carvin's Hipshot A bridge did. The B string intonated, but... just barely. I had about 1/8th of a turn left on that screw, before it would have been a fail. Why do I recommend the Fenders? I don't recall any of the club members that strung a Fender this way, having an intonation problem. Ever. Either because of how Fender locates and sets their bridge's up; because that bridge's saddles have lots of adjustment available; or both. The bridge on my Kramer is a lot like a Fender bent-plate bridge, except that the ball ends go through a hole like the Fender bridge has, but they stick down into a small, routed cavity under the rear part of the bridge. The saddles have about as much adjustment as a Fender bridge has, though...
In any case; while there are probably some exceptions, I'd say that any 4 string bass can be strung BEAD. And, if it will intonate? It will work just as well as any other bass will. But, the Fender bent-plate bridge is the one most likely to do that with no hassle.So, IMO? Go with either of the Fenders...:whistle:
 
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#14
Whichever one has the widest string nut. Even standard strings are a bit cramped for me on a J style nut. BEAD would make it extremely uncomfortable IMO.

My BEAD bass has a Precision Bass sized neck. While it’s perfectly usable, I often wish I had specified 1 7/8” nut width when I ordered the neck. Therefore, I would consider a 1 11/16" nut a minimum for BEAD.
 
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#15
GIBrat51 said:
I've had a couple of basses strung BEAD; neither were basses on your list, though. One was an aluminum-necked Kramer 450B; the other was an '06 Carvin LB-20. The Kramer didn't stay that way long; the Warwick Low B strings worked well; too well, given the Kramer's ridiculously high output pickups. But, it was my reluctance to modify an impossible-to-replace left handed Kramer nut, that made it a no-go. The Carvin, OTOH, was strung BEAD for... about 9 years; mainly because I had no real need for a custom-made Rickenbacker substitute, since I had 2 of the real thing. But, a couple of years ago, I changed it back to EADG tuning, and put a set of Sadowsky Blue Label Flats on it. Mainly because I just... couldn't justify a BEAD bass, given the kind of music I play. And, I also sold one of the Ricks. The Carvin can fake a Rick 4003 pretty darn well (it was made that way, after all); well enough that I don't miss that Rick - much...:rolleyes: However...
Which of those basses would I string BEAD? Either of the Fenders. I think I'm still a member of the 4-string BEAD Club here, and from what I remember reading from other members? The main problem people have with their basses, is getting the B string to intonate. And, the usual reason why, is that the (normally) E-string saddle just won't go back far enough. My Kramer didn't have a problem, but the E-string saddle on the Carvin's Hipshot A bridge did. The B string intonated, but... just barely. I had about 1/8th of a turn left on that screw, before it would have been a fail. Why do I recommend the Fenders? I don't recall any of the club members that strung a Fender this way, having an intonation problem. Ever. Either because of how Fender locates and sets their bridge's up; because that bridge's saddles have lots of adjustment available; or both. The bridge on my Kramer is a lot like a Fender bent-plate bridge, except that the ball ends go through a hole like the Fender bridge has, but they stick down into a small, routed cavity under the rear part of the bridge. The saddles have about as much adjustment as a Fender bridge has, though...
In any case; while there are probably some exceptions, I'd say that any 4 string bass can be strung BEAD. And, if it will intonate? It will work just as well as any other bass will. But, the Fender bent-plate bridge is the one most likely to do that with no hassle.So, IMO? Go with either of the Fenders...:whistle:
Click to expand...


Good point. I assumed that I’d be able to intonate any of these basses. I’ll see if I can find the BEAD club here for more info.
 
#16
overit said:
PJ. I have a P-Bass strung BEAD because it’s a backup to my BEAD Steinberger but I would have preferred to keep it standard for playing classic stuff like Motown. If I had an extra 4 around I probably would have done it with that one. It does sound great BEAD though so I’ll prob end up getting another P-Bass for standard tuning as I did have to widen the nut slots. It is strung with DR Legend flats.
Click to expand...


My thought as well.
 
#17
.
See the BEAD Bass Club.

I went to BEAD as an experiment on my #2 bass, a 2009 CIJ Jaguar (Jazz neck & 2 Jazz pickups), fully expecting to go back to EADG after "trying" it for a while. Oh, but, NOooo-ooo! I loved it too much!! It became my #1! Couple years later, I tried it on my former #1 bass, a 2004 MIM P-Bass Special (Jazz neck & PJ pickups), too. I then had co-#1s!!!

Then I got a 2015 Starcaster (dual humbuckers) short scale that absolutely spoke to me. I resisted BEADing it for a couple years, but finally tried it with a .150 B string. My BEAD love was finally complete! The short scale Starcaster (in my avatar) is now my #1!
.
 
#18
39-Bassist said:
I would do the RIC....simply because it's your least likable and it would be easy to replace nut and tweak the bridge.
DON'T touch the 80's PJ....worth more than the other basses you have now.
IMHO
Click to expand...


And I think the Ric bridge pickup would sound the best too. I don’t know if the smaller scale of the Ric would be ideal for a low B though. The 80s pj is already modified so I’m less concerned about resale value than I am having a good playing/sounding bass.
 
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#19
Msegbass said:
4. mid ‘80s Fender jazz special: Black and white PJ like Duff. Good enough bass but probably least used. Pickups are a little weak and doesn’t sound nearly as good as any other. Thinking of upgrading the pickups as well if I’m going to use it live.
Click to expand...
If you use it the lest often I'd go with it.

But what do you mean the pickups are weak? Do you have the pickups with the large pole pieces. Those were the factory pickups until '87ish I have five JBS with the large pole pickups and they are quite a bit loud with high output. Almost on par with the Dimarzio Model series.
 
#20
DrBnz said:
I'm sure all would work. Other odds-n-ends I'd think about.
- What strings are you gonna use
- Does the bass you select have a robust neck - this isn't the place for the thin neck "CIJ" Geddy Lee J-bass
- I'd also look at the truss rod. If its close to max. with EADG, then I may not have enough adjustments left to go BEAD
- I'm gonna have to rework the nut - hope I don't need a new one - So I can't be changing my mind once I file it, I'm committed to using that bass.
Click to expand...


All good points. I bought 5 string Roto 66 strings because I have them on most of my basses and it makes an easier comparison for me.

I’m beginning to think the P or Ric neck would be better than the jazz necks for this. Would the tension be different enough to need truss rod adjustment? I expected to do it but am curious how much different it will be
 

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